THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
King Koil opens in Avondale
Goodyear couple keeps faith PAGE
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westvalleyview.com
INSIDE
This Week
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The Voice of the West Valley for 33 years
Goodyear firefighter battles cancer, insurance industry By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
NEWS .............. 4 Nonprofit Kare Bears wins new water heater
SPORTS ........ 15 Sean McCorry made his mark on Desert Edge
9 DAYS ......... 16 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
LETTERS ........................10 BUSINESS..................... 12 SPORTS ..........................15 FEATURES .....................17 YOUTH ...........................21 NEIGHBORHOOD......25 OBITUARIES .................26 CLASSIFIEDS................26 NORTH
Taking care of those in trouble comes naturally to Goodyear fire engineer/ paramedic Gilbert Aguirre. But two years ago, the tables were turned. In June 2015, Aguirre was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia and battled for his life. CML, also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia, starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and invades the blood. Only about 10 percent of leukemias are CML, according to the American Cancer Society. His tenacity and ability to overcome challenges were tested, but through the support of his family, he emerged cancer-free. Now back on a Goodyear fire truck, Aguirre was honored for his hard work by the Arizona Elks Association, which named him the Firefighter of the Year during its state Firefighter Gilbert Aguirre suits up. (West Valley View photo by Jordan convention on May 12. Christopher) An 18-year fire service veteran, Aguirre won the came back and said I had leukemia. When regional award last fall. He didn’t expect I was talking to my doctor, I didn’t think I to be honored statewide. had symptoms, but I did. I was experiencing “It was different,” said Aguirre, who fatigue and I thought it was just from work. has three children with his wife of 17 I had real bad night sweats as well. I never years, Tiffanie. “You never expect to knew that was a sign until afterward. I was get anything. It was pretty exciting and working quite a bit. I was tired and in my humbling. It was pretty nice to get it.” mind, I thought it was all normal.” Aguirre was born in Bisbee, but grew Aguirre went through treatment and up in Sierra Vista. In 2008, he moved to is cancer-free, but he remains on an oral Goodyear. Seven years later, he visited his form of chemotherapy. His bloodwork doctor for a yearly employee physical and is repeated every three months. If he’s blood tests revealed a high platelet count. Firefighter...continued on page 2 “There were a lot of red flags,” he said. “It
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May 30, 2018
Avondale, Goodyear recycling funds imperiled by China ban
By Rick Barrs
Described as a “wake-up call” to the United States, the Republic of China’s decision to cease serving as a garbage dump for the world is imperiling Valley municipal recycling revenue, including that generated by Avondale and Goodyear. Declared “National Sword” by Chinese President Xi Jinping, China’s drastic change to its recycling policy is aimed at stopping the flow of “foreign garbage” into the country. Under the new edict, China will accept only recyclable bales with contaminant levels of 0.5 percent or better – a standard that American cities never come close to achieving. The national average for U.S. recyclables contaminants is 25 percent – and the levels in Valley cities, like Avondale and Goodyear, aren’t much different. Cindy Blackmore, Avondale’s public works director, said the city’s contaminant level has run from 15 to 20 percent. In Goodyear, the recyclables contamination rate has been as low as 17 percent and as high as 30 percent, said Sherine Zaya, the city’s spokeswoman. At Phoenix recycling stations, the contaminant rate has averaged 25 percent, and rates in the cities of Chandler, Mesa and Gilbert have been 11 percent, 13 percent and from 15 to 20 percent respectively, according to recycling managers. “The revenue source for recyclables has been so volatile,” Blackmore said. “But the China decision has had the biggest impact. We’re just hoping the market turns around.” Avondale made $87,800 from recyclables in fiscal year 2017, Blackmore said, and projects it will get just $41,000 this
Recycling...continued on page 8